China vows countermeasures to protect its interests after Trump’s tariffs

China on Thursday demanded that the United States immediately cancel its latest tariffs and vowed to take countermeasures to protect its interests, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on all US trading partners worldwide.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that the US move ignores the balance of interests reached through multilateral trade negotiations over the years and the fact that it benefits greatly from international trade.

The ministry added that “China firmly opposes this and will take countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests,” as the world’s two largest economies appear poised to plunge deeper into a trade war that could shake global supply chains.

Trump announced on Wednesday that China would face 34% tariffs, in addition to the 20% he imposed earlier this year, bringing the total new tariffs to 54% and approaching the 60% he threatened during his election campaign.